Page 65 of Resurrection
"I’ll be too busy with my own restaurant to be jealous."
"Your own restaurant?"
"Yes." I nodded. "You think you’re the only one with ambitions?"
"Never."
"You’ll see."
"Cool. Let’s make it official," Ty said, carving a rough heart around our initials. The wood flaked off, and the letters slowly took shape.
I stared at them, my own heart flipping in my chest. I couldn’t stop smiling. "I can’t believe you’re doing this. Vandalizing city property."
"It’s better than"—he pointed at a faded carving off to the side that had been there for what seemed like forever—"Tommy sucks cock."
I snorted out a laugh. "Well, love is love. If that’s what Tommy likes."
"Sure, whatever." Ty just shook his head. "In any case, Tommy’s history. We own this bench now."
Then he put the knife away and kissed me. When he pulled back, there was a sparkle in his eyes, a sparkle and a bit of nervousness.
"What is it now?" I asked.
"Do you want to go to the movies this weekend?"
"Like a date?"
"Yes."
"I’d love to."
18TYLER
There’s an answeredemail sitting in my inbox.
Earlier this morning, my phone buzzed with an unexpected call from my manager, Leif. An offer from Vortex came in. Their guitarist is taking time off for medical reasons, and Leif got an inquiry about me from their management. The guys in the band wanted to check to see if I was available first before moving on to other options. Six months on the road means good money, considering how expensive I’ve become ever since The Deviant tapped me to replace Chance.
But it all suddenly seems like some freaky déjà vu. I have the exact same choice I had seventeen years ago.
Leave or stay.
Music or Naomi.
And I can’t choose wrong this time.
She won’t forgive me if I disappear now while we’re slowly but surely fixing what’s broken between us.
No, I’m not touching this offer with a ten-foot pole, I decide, even though the temptation of being on the road is raw and real. I've fooled myself into an idea that doing the kind of work I've been doing since the band went on hiatus is better. But as soon as an opportunity presented itself, I realized I miss the stage.
To distract myself, I grab my acoustic and strum a few chords. But the song I’ve been working on these past few weeks doesn’t sound like it’s supposed to.
The words from my conversation with Leif flash through my mind.
Just checking if you got the email.
Let me know soon.
It’s a hot gig.
